FROM PRODUCE
Many farms grow more produce than they can sell before it goes bad. Over the last five years, East End Food has developed a team to address the need for year-round food production.
We're Building the Future of Local Food
We’re thrilled to announce that East End Food has been awarded a $5 million grant through the New York State Regional Farm to School Infrastructure grant program — an incredible milestone that will allow us to complete the build-out of our commercial kitchen and purchase the property at 139 Main Road in Riverhead as a permanent home for our growing food hub.
This moment is years in the making, but it's only the beginning.
2010 - 2020
Established and grew community-led programming to support, promote, and advocate for local food on eastern Long Island, NY
Built a robust membership and food processing program, turning over 30,000 lbs of produce a year into products to reduce waste and support the local food economy
2021
Purchased a refrigerated van and launched regular distribution of local food to schools, food pantries, and other partners in response to the pandemic
2022
Secured a short-term lease to pilot the Riverhead Indoor Farmers Market at 139 Main Road in Riverhead in support of over 40 local food and beverage vendors
2023
Negotiated a long term lease with option to purchase 139 Main Road in Riverhead and started construction on the East End Food Hub as a permanent home for local food programming
2024
Experienced a setback as food processing was put on hold and staff laid off due to unexpected termination of the lease for pilot kitchen in Southampton
2025
Awarded $5 Million New York State Regional Farm to School Infrastructure Grant to complete kitchen build-out and rebuild paused food aggregation, processing, and distribution programs to benefit local schools and other institutional partners
EAST END FOOD HUB WILL BE A COMMUNITY ANCHOR
Thanks to the tireless advocacy of our supporters and the strength of our vision, we now have the opportunity to secure a permanent home to aggregate, process, and distribute local food on the East End of Long Island and across New York State.
A hub that links local farm fresh produce to school children across Long Island and provides food preparation training for school nutrition directors and staff
A community space for workforce development, nutrition education, and culinary events that highlight East End cuisine
A centralized facility for processing, storing, and distributing local food on Long Island and across New York State
A space to support farmers, fisherman, and food producers with infrastructure they need to grow
THIS NEW GRANT IS JUST THE BEGINNING
While the $5 million grant makes it possible to purchase the property, there’s still a long road ahead. We must now raise the additional funds needed to rebuild operations, staffing, and programming that will bring this vision to life.
Please donate to support a new hub for East End Food.
QUESTIONS?
Contact marci@eastendfood.org for more information.
TO PRODUCTS
Our kitchen team turns produce into products. This reduces food waste, allows farms to operate year-round and gives foodies more local options to enjoy.
EAST END FOOD HUB WILL SUSTAIN OUR LOCAL FARMS.
FROM KITCHEN
Our commercial kitchen is available to small scale entrepreneurs who can rent the space to produce their goods and sell at our year-round indoor market in Riverhead or online.
TO MARKET
East End Food offers marketing, sales and distribution support that streamlines connections between farmers, producers and everyone who enjoys local food.
EAST END FOOD HUB WILL LAUNCH HUNDREDS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES.
FROM FARM
East End Food buys surplus fruits and vegetables from local farms to support and sustain regional food production. Our kitchen team preserves produce for year-round freshness and availability.
TO COMMUNITY
We partner with 15 schools, 7 food pantries and 3 senior centers to aggregate, process and distribute local food to thousands of people across the East End.
EAST END FOOD HUB WILL FEED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NEED.